My big wake-up call
This past month has been a HUGE wake-up call for me.
I’ve been confronting my white privilege and unconsciousness around systemic racial injustice and have had some big aha’s. On some level, I’ve been aware and doing my part–or so I thought–and also wondering, what else can I do?
On another level, I’ve been ignorant and negligent in regards to standing up, speaking up, and really doing the work to end racial oppression.
The fog is lifting, and I’m starting to get it. Thanks to the abundance of resources available, I’m reading, reflecting, listening, learning, educating myself, feeling, praying, and taking inspired actions that call to me.
And I’m committed to continue doing the inner and outer work required–and using my powerful feminine voice–to dismantle the culture of white supremacy we live in, and create a world where Black Lives Matter.
I’m also well aware that this is a life-long process–not just a 2020 fad–to do the work needed to create sustainable racial justice now and for generations to come.
Last week I called my friend Wanda. Wanda and I have known each other for a long time through our mutual dear friend Eve. Five years ago, Wanda wrote a book called 50 Years of Assimilation, where she shares her personal story from growing up in Detroit in the turbulent 60s and 70s to moving to the progressive and multicultural world of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Wanda sent me a copy of her book 5 years ago, which I’m embarrassed to say, I didn’t read. I mean, I looked through it. I read parts of it. I intended to read it. But I didn’t do it.
Early last month, I thought of Wanda’s book. I searched for it in our house (my husband and I have A LOT of books), found it, and read it cover to cover.
In our conversation, I had the chance to tell Wanda how much I appreciated her sharing her intimate stories of growing up Black in America. Her book is heart-opening, eye-opening, thought-provoking and contributed to my wake-up. I’m sorry I didn’t read it sooner.
Wanda, a certified mediator and seasoned HR professional, let me know she’s teaching an online workshop called “The American Experience: The Blackness, the Whiteness and Ending the Racism in Between” next Friday, July 10.
This timely workshop (on Zoom) is designed to help create a paradigm shift on race consciousness and unconsciousness–something that is so needed!–as well as identify our racial blindspots, remove the barriers, break down the resistance and bring forth deep healing.
Wanda is a bright light and all-around lovely, fun and funny human being. She creates a safe space for honest conversation and heartfelt connection.
I signed up for her workshop, and I hope you’ll join me. Get the details here.
Last thing, I want to tell you about the Million Letter Movement, a grassroots change initiative designed to end police brutality, excessive force, and racial bias in America. It was started by San Diego businesswoman and beautiful soul Nikki Klugh, whom I met 7 or 8 years ago when I started my business.
The Movement’s goal is to send 1 million or more letters to U.S. mayors and chiefs of police in the 50 most populous cities and the ten deadliest ones, requesting they implement the “8 Can’t Wait” reforms. Research has shown cities that enact these eight use-of-force policies can reduce police violence by 72 percent.
If you live in one of the 50 most populous U.S. cities, like I do here in San Diego, I urge you to join the Million Letter Movement here. They have templates you can download for your city’s mayor and police chief, and it literally took me about 10 minutes to add my name, print out, address the letters, and put them in my mailbox.
Together, we can do this. Let’s hold each other accountable, and keep going to create a nation where people of all races, classes, creeds and colors coexist in an environment of mutual respect, compassion, interdependence, harmony, opportunity, freedom, justice, and love.
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